How to sustain technology funding in schools

Study reveals that community support, multiple sources are needed

By Laura Devaney, Managing EditorRead more by Laura Devaney January 2nd, 2013

Schools must be proactive in securing the funds to sustain ed-tech initiatives.

Involving the community, identifying backup revenue sources, and dedicating time and resources for professional development are the keys to sustaining technology funding and ed-tech initiatives, according to a survey conducted by the nonprofit Digital Wish.

Digital Wish launched SMI, a one-to-one computing program, in 2009. The initiative involved 28 schools and 1,294 students in grades 4-6, and it gave curriculum and training to 79 teachers. At the end of the program’s first year, school leaders turned to the challenge of sustaining this initiative, and the A.D. Henderson Foundation commissioned Digital Wish to examine how schools could do this successfully.

The foundation also tasked Digital Wish with developing free resources to spread best practices in sustaining ed-tech programs. The study included responses from administrators, IT specialists, media and curriculum coordinators, librarians, and teachers.

The survey results revealed that, when it comes to technology funding, the “most successful schools develop multiple sources of revenue, they trigger strong community engagement, and they prioritize daily support and training for teachers.”

(Next page: A breakdown of how successful ed-tech programs are funded)

Comments:

PatrickA

January 8, 2013 at 12:07 am

I recently spoke with several administrators from different school districts and they appear to accept the use of alternative revenue streams especially for tech funding. The issue here is creating a self-sustaining model. The laws stop districts from generating their own outside revenues. This is fair but districts must realize there are other solutions.
I have developed a product that is NO COST and generates up to 70% revenues for schools using social commerce. I truly wish other districts would take me up on this offer. I am an academic, I have devoted my career to helping young people get started. This helps keep it going forward.
honorscholar.com – please take a look and let’s talk.

PatrickA

January 8, 2013 at 12:08 am

I recently spoke with several administrators from different school districts and they appear to accept the use of alternative revenue streams especially for tech funding. The issue here is creating a self-sustaining model. The laws stop districts from generating their own outside revenues. This is fair but districts must realize there are other solutions.
I have developed a product that is NO COST and generates up to 70% revenues for schools using social commerce. I truly wish other districts would take me up on this offer. I am an academic, I have devoted my career to helping young people get started. This helps keep it going forward.
– please take a look and let’s talk.